December 19, 2013

By Julie Payne

O’Leta Fields, who has served faithfully as the secretary of Riverside Baptist Church, Mobile, for 56 years, will retire from the role Dec. 29.

Fields joined Riverside Baptist in 1947 and began serving as the church’s third secretary Sept. 1, 1957, just a couple of years after she graduated from high school.

Fields noted that church members who “had a concern for witnessing to people” led her to the Lord.

She said that “being with the people and getting to know them and trying to help them” in any way she can have been the most fulfilling parts of her role at the Mobile Baptist Association church.

Pastor Randall Ingram said Fields is a beloved fixture at Riverside. “She is an encyclopedia of knowledge about the membership and activities of the church,” he noted. “She is a godly lady and wonderful servant of Christ and His church. We will miss her presence and knowledge but know she deserves the best retirement life can afford.”

Riverside will honor Fields for her years of service Dec. 29.

Fields noted that in her retirement, she plans to do some traveling. (Julie Payne)